Gates supports government efforts

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Bill Gates is supportive of investigators’ efforts to force Apple to help them crack into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

While clarifying he doesn’t support untrammeled government access to personal data, the Microsoft co-founder’s position runs contrary to those of many tech executives who have backed Apple Inc. Gates stated in a handful of interviews that it’s not uncommon for phone companies and banks to hand over customer information to investigators. He questioned why tech companies should be treated differently.